Device for setting the stock angle for shotguns

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a device for setting the angle of the stock for MAR shotguns. It includes a fixed plate ( 11 ) for fixing to a part of the stock body, a mobile plate ( 12 ) for fixing to another part of the stock, a vertical guide element ( 13 ) anchored above the fixed plate ( 11 ) that can be positioned at least in one transverse direction and be associated to a memory element. The mobile part is connected to the guide element and can be moved in several directions and angularly on and with respect to the same for the positioning of one part of the stock on the other.

[0001] This invention generally concerns the stocks of hunting and target practice shotguns and refers in more detail to a device for setting the angle of these stocks.

[0002] While rifle stocks can be created in special, customised shapes they sometimes have a longitudinal top part called a plate, cheek pad or even toe which can be moved and positioned with respect to the remaining part of the stock. This is to be able to vary the so-called angle of the stock, by setting it according to need, so that the person using the riffle can find a correct and reliable position for his support cheek. Various devices for this variation/adjustment of the stock angle have already been proposed. Examples among others are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,432,519, 3,710,496, 5,580,219, 5,031,348, 5,235,764.

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to propose and create a device for setting the angle in a rifle stock, a new device of original execution and one capable of permitting the moving and positioning of the mobile part of the stock in several directions for maximum effective adaptation of the configuration of the stock to the most widely diverse requirements of the person using the rifle.

[0004] The purpose is reached in accordance with the invention, with a device and a stock conforming to claim 1. An advantage of the invention is that its components can be obtained from a pressed techno-polymer, thus reducing the engineering work and consequently the costs.

[0005] The enclosed drawings illustrate a practical example of the creation of the device of the invention, which will be described as follows in detail. In these drawings:

[0006]FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively show perspectives from above and below, of the exploded elements of the device;

[0007]FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively show perspectives from above and below, of the assembled device;

[0008]FIG. 5 shows a view of the front of the assembled device;

[0009]FIG. 6 shows a view of the device from above;

[0010]FIG. 7 shows a view from one end of the device;

[0011]FIG. 8 shows a transverse section of the device according to arrows A-A on FIG. 5;

[0012]FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal section according to arrows B-B on FIG. 5;

[0013]FIGS. 10 and 11 show another two transverse sections according to arrows C-C and D-D, respectively on FIG. 5;

[0014]FIG. 12 shows another longitudinal section of the device according to arrows E-E on FIG. 6; and

[0015]FIGS. 14 and 14 show the device in two different use positions.

[0016] According to the creation represented, the device essentially includes a fixed plate 11, a mobile plate 12, a vertical guide 13, a locking plate 14, a memory element 15 and two bushings 16.

[0017] The stock for shotguns to which the device is applied usually includes a main body 17 and a mobile, attached part 18, called a plate or cheek pad which serves to set the angle of the stock. The mobile part 18 is located longitudinally in the upper part of the stock with the possibility of movements and orientation in various directions.

[0018] The fixed plate 11 has holes 19 for the passage of the screws—not shown to fix it longitudinally to the upper part of the main body 17 of the stock. The mobile plate 12 is fixed to the base of the mobile element 18 of the stock using screw—not shown—passing through holes 20 made in the plate itself.

[0019] The mobile plate 12 is located facing the fixed plate 11 corresponding to a hollow 18, formed in the mobile element 18 of the stock. The mobile plate 12 has a substantially rectangular opening 21 along its length. Along at least one of the longer sides of this opening 21 a square rib is created that rises up from the face of the mobile plate 12 opposed to the facing one of the fixed plate and therefore towards the bottom of hollow 18. The following are transversely made in the square rib 22: a central hole 23 and two similar holes 21,—these latter ones on opposite sides to the central one.

[0020] In a transverse direction, two slots 25, spaced in parallel are made in the fixed plate 11. On the face below the fixed plate 11, a rectangular recess 26 is made corresponding to each slot 25. Adjacent to each slot 25, a groove 27 may be made in the fixed plate 11 into which a sliding reference cap may be inserted.

[0021] The vertical guide element 13, is fixed to the plate 11 and passes freely into the opening 21 of the mobile plate 12, alongside the square rib 22 of this latter. For fixing, the vertical guide 13 has a pair of vertical holes 29 into which a vertical blocking screw 30 is inserted from above. The screw 30 passes through a corresponding slot 25 in the fixed plate 11 and screws into a square nut 31 which is retained without rotating but which can translate in the rectangular recess 26 bellow the fixed plate corresponding to the slot itself.

[0022] A bushing 16 may be inserted into each vertical hole 29, above the head of the blocking screw 30.

[0023] The vertical guide 13 also has two U shaped recesses 32, spaced apart from each other, open at the top and extending downwards according to the height of the guide itself.

[0024] The mobile plate 12 is fixed to the vertical guide 13 with the aid of the locking shoe 14, this latter, being arranged to the side of the vertical guide 13 on the side opposite to the square rib 22. In other words, the vertical guide 13 is positioned between the square rib 22 of the mobile plate 12 and the locking shoe 14. This fixing is obtained through transverse screws 33 which are inserted into the corresponding holes 24 of the said square rib 22, which pass through the recesses 32 of the said vertical guide 13 and into coinciding holes 34 made in the tightening shoe 14 and which screw into square nuts 35 on the external face of the said shoe; the nuts 35 being retained to stop them rotating in recesses 36 made on the external face of the shoe 14.

[0025] Preferably, a helical spring 37, is fitted around each transverse screw 33 which works between the square rib 22 and the tightening shoe 14, facilitating the release of the coupled parts when the said screws 33 are unscrewed. For their tightening/unscrewing the screws 33 are accessible through holes made in the mobile part of the stock.

[0026] The vertical guide 13 has an intermediate, tapered part 13′ and the memory element 15 is located between the square rib 22 of the mobile plate 12 and the vertical guide 13, in correspondence with the said tapered part 13′. More precisely, the memory element 15 is fixed to the rib 22 with a screw 38 that is housed in the central hole made in the rib itself that passes through a coinciding slot 39 made in the memory element and which screws into a square nut 40, retained to prevent rotation but to permit translation in a groove 41 made in the element itself. This element oscillates on the shank of the screw 38 contrasted in this movement by the opposing springs 42.

[0027] When this device is applied to the main body and to the mobile element of a rifle stock it is possible to modify the position according to need of the mobile element on the fixed body, both in height and transversely, and by keeping it parallel to itself or by modifying its angulations vertically and laterally above the main body as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. This is obtained by acting on the vertical screws 30 and the horizontal ones 33 and thanks to the transverse slots 25 and the U shaped vertical recesses 32.

[0028] In any case, the mobile element of the stock can be then fixed in the desired position using the locking system, created as described above, with the assistance of the tightening shoe 14.

[0029] The memory element 15 permits the setting and memorisation of every determinate position that must be reset after any movements of the mobile element of the stock.

[0030] Finally it should be noted that the guide element 13 may bear the graduations 43 on at least one side to give a visual indication of the positions assumed by the mobile plate 12 and with this of the mobile element, above the main body of the stock. 

1. A device for setting the angle in a rifle stock, where the stock is composed of a main body and an element which can be moved, located longitudinally above an upper part of the main body and where the device includes a fixed plate (11) for fixing to the upper part of the main body and a mobile plate (12) for fixing to a base of the mobile element of the stock facing the fixed plate, characterised by a vertical guide element (13) anchored perpendicularly above the fixed plate (11), that can be positioned at least in a transverse direction to the said fixed plate, with two U shaped transverse recesses (32) extending according to the height of the guide element (13) and open towards the top: this said vertical guide element (13) passes freely into an opening (21) made in the mobile plate (12). There are also elements (22, 14) to block the said mobile plate to the said vertical guide (13) with the passing, transverse locking screws (33) that move in the said transverse U shaped recesses (32), accessible through coinciding holes made in the movable element of the stock, so that the said mobile plate together with the movable element of the stock fixed to it can be moved and positioned in several directions and angularly on and with respect to the main body of the stock.
 2. A device according to claim 1 in which a memory element (15), adjustable in height and oscillating following the movements of the mobile plate, is placed between the mobile plate (12) and the vertical guide element (13).
 3. A device according to claims 1 and 2 in which the said vertical guide element (13) is anchored to the fixed plate (11) with a pair of vertical screws (30) passing down from above that move In the transverse slots (25) made in the said fixed plate: each of these said screws screw into their respective non rotating nuts (31) located and retained under the fixed plate.
 4. A device according to claims 1-3 in which along at least one side of the opening (21) in the mobile plate (12), a square rib (22) rises up running adjacently to one side of the vertical guide element (13), in which along on side of the said opening (21) runs a mobile locking shoe (14) which can be separated from the mobile plate and in which the said transverse locking screws (33) connect the said square rib (22) to the said locking shoe (14) by passing through the said U shaped recesses (32) to block the mobile plate (12) to the vertical guide element (13) in each of the positions assumed by the mobile plate together with the element that can be moved of the stock.
 5. A device according to claim 4 in which at least one spring (37) is placed between the said square rib (22) and the said locking shoe (14) to slacken the said shoe when the transverse screws (33) are unscrewed.
 6. A device according to the previous claims in which graduated scales are marked on parts of the fixed plate and/or the vertical guide element to display the different positions that the mobile plate can assume with respect to the fixed one. 